Photo Credit: The Saxon Hotel, Villas and Spa

 

Saxon Energy

Absorb energy, perhaps with a QMS Medicosmetics skin regeneration, at The Saxon, formerly private Johannesburg home of its owner, comparethemarket boss Douw Steyn. Mandela repaired here in 1990 on his release from Robben Island (stay in the second floor Mandela Suite, where he wrote Long Walk to Freedom).

 

Safari Adventures

Douw Steyn’s homes today include a London pad in Belgrave Square, bought from Bruce Wasserstein for £63 million. He also has a Palladian mansion on 27,000 acres of well-stocked safari game four hours’ drive north of Johannesburg. Its visitors’ lodge, the ten-villa Shambala Private Game Reserve will re-open shortly. Villas two, three are cantilevered over water.

 

Where The Wild Things Are

More wild life.  There are deer galore at the 1,000-acre Gunton Arms in Norfolk. Chelsea-based gallerist Ivor Braka bought it as a run-down hotel, designer-adapted it to a pub with rooms. One was favourite of Lily Langtry, lover of The Prince of Wales. All have Egyptian marble bathrooms, Roberts radios. Chef Stuart Tattersall’s cod fingers with mushy peas. All around, art to buy.

 

Time For A Big Bang

Invest in a timepiece from Hublot, official FIFA timekeeper since 2010. Hublot CEO Ricardo Guadalupe thinks musicians, especially DJs, are ideal brand ambassadors. Hoblot’s iridescent Big Bang watch is a collaboration with French table-turner William Sam Etienne Grigahcine (DJ Snake).

 

A Vroom In Vegas

Plan Las Vegas now for its Formula 1 Heineken Silver Las Vegas Grand Prix 16–18 November 2023. Wynn’s east-facing Tower Suites overlook the golf course, where around 250 cars will be resting for Concours at Wynn Las Vegas (the hotel works especially closely with Bugatti and McLaren). Book far ahead for supper-club dining at Delilah, a simultaneous feast for eyes and tastebuds.

 

Spooning

Expect a craze worldwide for ‘splodge dishes’. Massimo Bottura, three Michelin stars for Osteria Francescana in Modena, opened gourmets’ eyes at the inaugural RR1 MGM Macau Culinary Masters. Chefs paraded across the stage depositing single spoonfuls of different coloured purées to Bottura’s veal tribute to Damien Hirst. Every resulting plate was obviously unique. Every one was gastronomic heaven.

 

Understated Star Power

Luxury accessories can manage without logos. Global culinary personality Prue Leith, invariably wearing multi-hued glasses on television, has her own coat-of-many-colours eyewear range, made by Ronit Furst. The colours mean they’re instantly recognisable. From head to toe, unstated branding is found on SJP footwear, fronted by Sex and the City star Sarah Jessica Parker. Simple high heels in simply stunning colours. Handmade in Italy with a signature grosgrain stripe at the heel.